Murray Elliott Black was born in August 1957 as the youngest of four children Beth and Elliott raised at a Zeerust farm.

He attended Zeerust Primary School before his family moved to Shepparton in 1968, where he attended Bourchier St Primary School.

Mr Black went to Albury Grammar School for a year before returning to Shepparton and attending North Technical College.

His first job was as a Parklake Hotel drinks waiter and he originally thought of a career in business management.

However, he joined Ambulance Victoria and became a Mobile Intensive Care Ambulance paramedic in 1995.

Mr Black became a training paramedic in 1996 and helped develop several programs in his role as Hume regional clinical manager.

‘‘His work ethics were unquestionable,’’ Mr Cook said.

Mr Black met his eventual wife Debbie doing ‘‘lappies’’ around Victoria Park Lake in Shepparton. They married on Debbie’s 21st birthday at Wesley Uniting Church in 1980 and raised three children — Rachelle, 28, and twins Damien, 26, and Nathan.

Damien and Nathan were 12 when they joined their father as Mooroopna Fire Brigade members.

Mr Black used his disease diagnosis to achieve several things on his ‘‘bucket list’’, including travelling with family and friends on the Indian Pacific from Perth to Sydney, and across Asia and Europe.

‘‘Murray had a clear priority for his family and he was tireless in his effort to support, protect and develop his young ones,’’ Mr Fimmel said.

Murray Black is survived by his wife Debbie, two of his three children and three grandchildren.

The family said donations to Neo-Science Research would be appreciated.